Post-Traumatic Growth: What You Need To Know

Developed in the mid-1990s by psychologists Richard Tedeschi, Ph.D., and Lawrence Calhoun Ph.D., post-traumatic growth theory is defined as “the experience of positive change that occurs as a result of struggling with highly challenging situations. life crisis,” according to an article in psychology consultation.

Post-traumatic growth is about the positive transformations people can experience after experiencing trauma, says Matthew Scult, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Brooklyn, New York. “It goes beyond the concept of resilience by suggesting that, in some areas, people can not only return to their baseline levels after experiencing trauma, but also have positive changes in outlook,” he says.

In addition, post-traumatic growth theory proposes that the way people process trauma can offer them a new view of the world with new insights about themselves and others, adds Silvi Saxena, a licensed social worker and certified clinical trauma practitioner based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Not everyone who experiences trauma will experience post-traumatic growth, but some people are more likely to do so. “It has been shown that people who are more extroverted and who are more open to new experiences are more likely to experience post-traumatic growth,” says Dr. Scult. Post-traumatic growth is also more likely to occur when people have strong social support and are comfortable talking about their trauma with others, he adds.

Whether or not a person experiences post-traumatic growth may also depend on the following, according to a report from the American Psychological Association:

• Sex: Women report slightly higher growth than men (although the difference is relatively small).
• Years: Young children under the age of 8 are less likely to have the ability to experience post-traumatic growth, while young adults are more likely to experience it as they may be more open to change. Still, young children are capable of post-traumatic growth, as experts point out that they have innate resilience.
• Genetics: Certain genetic variants may play a role in posttraumatic growth, but more research is needed.

So why exactly does post-traumatic growth occur? Saxena says that it all comes down to our need as humans to adapt and survive. “We learn coping mechanisms and build on those skills to keep moving forward,” she says. “Sometimes those coping skills don’t imply growth. For others, however, it involves using trauma to find ways to change life circumstances so they don’t fall into the same situations over and over again.”

The Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) is a tool designed to assess positive outcomes after experiencing trauma. More specifically, “it’s a self-report survey used by mental health professionals to collect data from trauma survivors about their perception of themselves, their beliefs, and their relationships and assess the ways they cope,” says Saxena.

The PTGI examines positive responses to trauma in five key domains:

• new possibilities
• Relate with others
• personal strength
• spiritual change
• appreciation of life

While the initial PTGI was a 21-item scale, it has recently been revised to include 25 items to broaden spiritual experiences outside of more traditional religious concepts.

The PTGI is not a diagnostic tool and is most commonly used in research settings, Dr. Scult cautions. “Approaches to post-traumatic growth are beginning to be explored for use in clinical settings in conjunction with trauma treatment, but should not be used in place of trauma treatment,” he says.

Signs of post-traumatic growth, according to Saxena and Dr. Scult, can include:

• A change of priorities based on values
• Most significant relationships
• A greater sense of personal strength.
• A richer existential and spiritual life
• A greater appreciation for people, experiences and life.
• a positive attitude
• stronger will
• greater patience
• new beliefs

Trauma recovery can vary from person to person and there are many different tools and resources to help heal after experiencing trauma, such as:

• Physical and emotional self-care: These practices help people take care of themselves with or without the guidance of a mental health professional, and may include taking stock of the habits in your life and which ones make you feel better.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy: This type of therapy focuses on the interplay between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and focuses on changing those patterns of thoughts and behaviors that can cause difficulty functioning.
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy: This type of cognitive behavioral therapy helps people deal with trauma-related feelings, memories, and situations over time.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: This type of therapy helps people reduce trauma-related symptoms by focusing on trauma-related memories while experiencing bilateral brain stimulation (typically in the form of eye movements).

Not addressing trauma can lead to more pain, Saxena says, so it’s especially important to take time to process that trauma in order to heal and move on. “In that process, feel all your feelings,” she says. “It may seem counterintuitive, but allowing yourself to feel pain, anger, sadness, and any other negative emotions will allow you to work through those emotions and will teach you a lot about yourself.”

And because it’s common to experience both PTSD and PTSD at the same time, Dr. Scult also recommends working with a qualified mental health professional. In fact, research suggests that treatment for PTSD can facilitate post-traumatic growth, even when those interventions don’t focus much on post-traumatic growth itself.

If you have experienced a traumatic event and have life-threatening symptoms, it is time to contact a mental health professional for guidance and treatment, as it could be an indicator of acute stress disorder or PTSD.

“If the trauma or symptoms, such as changes in sleep, changes in eating, changes in behavior and actions, changes in mood, relationships, activities of daily living, personal hygiene, and work are affected, it is time to talk to someone who can help you process the trauma and learn ways to cope [in ways that] it won’t continue to negatively impact the commitments you have in your life,” says Saxena.

In addition, a mental health professional can complete an evaluation to determine if you have PTSD. Some common symptoms of PTSD, according to Dr. Scult, include:

• Having nightmares about the event.
• Avoid situations that remind you of the event.
• Being constantly on guard or startled easily
• Feeling numb or detached from other people and your environment.
• Feeling guilty or blaming yourself for the event

While resources like this article can be a helpful educational starting point, Dr. Scult emphasizes the importance of looking for professional help as soon as possible.

And remember: with post-traumatic growth, trauma can be transformative. “Your way of looking at trauma and the perspective you have on your situations and the general belief of your life and the world around you will give you the tools you need to cultivate post-traumatic growth,” says Saxena.